The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-10-20
VOL. ~.
KILLING OF WASHINGTON.
Am Act Loading 40 the PrOmO-
tiOn OfSergeant Weller, and
AyertImg an Attack.

tiOn OfSergeant Weller, and
AVertInG an Attack.
Major J. j. Weller, OF Johnson City
Tennessee, has returned to his home
He came north to attend the reunion
of Wilder's brigade, at Greencastle
and next to the distinguished general
who commanded this famous brigade
none received a heartier welcome
than this gallant old soldier. Hi;
coming recalled an incident in which
he figured in the mountains OF Nir
ginia, which led to the killing Of q
near relative OF George Washington
and the Illustration of the plan OF the
plan of the confederate general com
handing, which looked to the annihi
lation Of the Union forces con fronting
him. The details of it were gathered
from Mr.. Backus, the carriage-maker
who was soldier In the same brigade
During the month Of September
1861, the Union forces lay at Elk Wa
ter, Va, and Captain G. w. Slough
of company "E," Seventeeth Indiana,
was ordered to move his command tC
the support Of the Outposts, as the en-
emy, under command of Lee, wer,
reconnoitering the camp, and ther,
were indications that an attack wa
contemplated by his entire force
While at the outpost, the report cam
that the enemy was circulating to tn
right and rear and Captain Stougl
was directed to reeonnoiter ravin
not far distant, and verify the rumor
il possible Weller was sergeant a
the time, and he was given two mel
and was ordered to proceed in ad
vance on the side of the mountain
while the company marched along TIL
road at the base, given point bein
named where they were to join til
command. Near the appointed meeI
ing place Sergeant Weller and hi
men met three men on horseback
dressed in blue, but with their hats pc
culiarly marked, the one the cente
having the bearing of an officer, an
the trio evidently scouting around t
see what could be seen. On obser,
ing the sergeant, they wheeled squa
ly to the right and attempted to rid
away, but Weller cautioned his mel
who were good shots, to "take til
middle one," and he dropped from h
saddle, while the Others escape,
The accuracy of the aim may /
Judged from the fact that all three
the shots took effect in the body nei
the heart, one of the bullets in j
passage tearing away a part of tt
scabbard of the sword which he wor
Papers in his possession showed Il
officer to be Colonel John A. Was
ington, typographical engineer
General Lees staff, and on his persC
was found his sword, two revolvers,
field glass, 81 800 in money and +
markably accurate map OF the feder
camp, giving the forces even to Il
artillery and cavalry, and the numb
OF available men, whith plan of A
tack, showing the different roads to
taken by the advancing forces, M
other data, the whole of which prove
of inestimable service to the Unio
cause. All Of these things were I
ported to the secretary OF war, wi
publicly thanked Sergeant Weller
the service he had accomplished, al
in directing the return of the body
the confederate forces, Weller W
permitted to go along This act al
led to his speedy promotion as secor
lieutenant, and his gallantry on 9th
fields advanced him to a ajor's col
mission, One OF the two revolvers
ken from Washington was also Civ
him, and he still preserves it as v
uable memento-IndianapOlis Ne,c